Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Perry has deep financial ties to maker of HPV vaccine
The Washington Post ^ | 09/13/2011 | Dan Eggen

Posted on 09/13/2011 1:18:56 PM PDT by Rational Thought

Texas Gov. Rick Perry bristled at accusations during Monday’s GOP debate that he had done the bidding of a corporate donor by ordering schoolgirls to use a new vaccine.

“The company was Merck, and it was a $5,000 contribution that I had received from them,” Perry said. “I raised about $30 million.

(snip)

But campaign disclosure records portray a much deeper financial connection with Merck than Perry’s remarks would suggest.

Perry’s gubernatorial campaign, for example, received nearly $30,000 from the drugmaker since 2000, most of it prior to his decision in 2007 to order young girls to obtain Merck’s vaccine against the human papillomavirus, or HPV.

Merck has also given more than $355,000 in donations to the Republican Governors Association since 2006, which was the year that Perry began to play a prominent role in the Washington-based group, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics.

Perry served as chairman of the RGA in 2008 and again this year until he decided to run for president. The group also ranks among Perry’s biggest donors, giving the Texas governor’s campaign at least $4 million over the past five years, according to Texans for Public Justice.

(snip)

One of Perry’s closest confidantes, former chief of staff Mike Toomey, was working at the time as an Austin-based lobbyist for Merck, which was in the midst of a multimillion-dollar campaign to persuade states to make the vaccine mandatory.

Toomey, who has declined to respond to requests for comment, has since gone on to help found Make Us Great Again, a pro-Perry super PAC that can accept unlimited donations from corporations and wealthy donors. Media reports indicate that the group plans to raise as much as $55 million to help Perry win the GOP nomination

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: affirmativeaction; captaingardasil; elections; feminism; perry; perrycare; rickperry; socialism; teachers
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-63 next last
To: macquire

“and that the Texas Legislature overturned the Executive Order before a single girl had received the vaccine.”

Because he didn’t get away with it, makes it okay, somehow?


41 posted on 09/13/2011 2:50:17 PM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts ma'am, just the facts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: chickpundit
"Interesting you should say this, as your Freeper “About” page in large part denigrates Palin"

Ohhhh...are you talking about this part?

LIST OF READY MADE EXCUSES FOR SARAH PALIN FAILING TO GET THE GOP NOMINATION:

1. The media wouldn't give her a chance to get her message out.
2. The media lied enough to scare off voters from Sarah.
3. Karl Rove
4. The media distorted and lied about Sarah's message.
5. Sarah actually won every primary but THEY committed the biggest election fraud in the history of the world in order to STEAL the nomination from Sarah.
6. THEY knew Sarah would win in the biggest landslide ever and did everything they could to destroy her. (this will be followed by claims that armed revolt is the only way to take back America for God)
7. SATAN (for those who feel #3 is insufficient)
8. Mitt Romney (for those who feel #6 is insufficient)

Actually this isn't a denigration of Palin, it's a denigration of her supporters. I'm waiting until she runs to actually denigrate her ability as a candidate.

42 posted on 09/13/2011 2:51:00 PM PDT by Artemis Webb (Perry 2012! A Conservative who can win!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: RowdyFFC
"AND here’s a question for you? If you think Sarah Palin is going to turn down a dime of ANYBODY’S money to get herself elected you are SORELY STUPID! Sarah’s going to be so wrapped up in oil and gas money, she’s going to smell like a gallon of gasoline!"

Such funding might be counterproductive to the profit motive of oil companies.

Facts about Sarah Palin (my title)
Via Email | Unknown | [Not unknown. Here it is.] Dewie Whetsell, Alaskan Fisherman

Posted on Sun 11 Oct 2009 01:18:45 AM MST by Neil E. Wright

"2 - Now with the CBC gone, there were fewer Alaskan politicians to protect the huge, giant oil companies here. So, she constructed and enacted a new system of splitting the oil profits called "ACES". Exxon (the biggest corporation in the world) protested and Sarah told them "don't let the door hit you in the stern on your way out." They stayed, and Alaska residents went from being merely wealthy to being filthy rich. Of course the other huge international oil companies meekly fell in line. Again, give me the name of any other governor in the country that has done anything similar."

Palin brought extra, "early funding for [public] education" (Alaska State).

Governor Palin Signs Domestic Violence Legislation
http://us4palin.com/governor-palin-signs-domestic-violence-legislation/

From a Palin speech transcript:

"My mom and dad both worked at the elementary school in our small town. And among the many things I owe them is a simple lesson that I’ve learned, that this is America, and every woman can walk through every door of opportunity...I love those hockey moms. You know, they say the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick. So I signed up for the PTA because I wanted to make my kids’ public education even better. And when I ran for city council,...This was the spirit that brought me to the governor’s office when I took on the old politics as usual in Juneau, when I stood up to the special interests, and the lobbyists, and the Big Oil companies, and the good-old boys...When oil and gas prices went up dramatically and filled up the state treasury, I sent a large share of that revenue back where it belonged: directly to the people of Alaska. And despite fierce opposition from oil company lobbyists, who kind of liked things the way that they were, we broke their monopoly on power and resources. As governor, I insisted on competition and basic fairness to end their control of our state and return it to the people."


43 posted on 09/13/2011 2:51:41 PM PDT by familyop (cbt. engr. (cbt), Army NG, '89-' 96)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: familyop

lol, Don’t worry, I know all about Sarah’s great success stories...she is a blessing to us all and would be as president should she run.

But I’m not naive...it’s going to take a buttload of somebody’s money to make it happen, as well as any dimes I can send her way.

And I know that I can trust her with it, just like I know I can trust Governor Perry, also.


44 posted on 09/13/2011 3:02:22 PM PDT by RowdyFFC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: AEMILIUS PAULUS
“Perry’s sin, if any, was very small.”

WHAT? It's not about politicians accepting campaign contributions from corporations, it's about what you are willing to do, to get that money.

Maybe Perry should contact Celgene Corporation and see if they would be willing to contribute to his campaign if he was willing to promote thalidomide for them. Hey, it's still legal. People can “opt out”. No big deal.

45 posted on 09/13/2011 3:09:12 PM PDT by faucetman (Just the facts ma'am, just the facts)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: macquire

If that is the case can we say.....he tried but failed...


46 posted on 09/13/2011 3:29:27 PM PDT by goat granny
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: faucetman

MAYBE you need to study up on the the POLIO Vaccine requirements of the 1960’s....


47 posted on 09/13/2011 3:33:04 PM PDT by macquire
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Rational Thought

Rick Perry...bought and paid for. next.


48 posted on 09/13/2011 3:36:25 PM PDT by freedomtrail (EEOC- Eventual Elimination Of Caucasians)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: svcw

LOL! Like that new Brad Pitt movie when he hangs up on the guy. “When you get the answer you want, you hang up.”


49 posted on 09/13/2011 3:38:30 PM PDT by rabidralph
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Marty62

We have been forced to have the flu shot for the past three years at the hospital where I work (I don’t take care of patients, I analyze data all day at a remote site). Last year it was a three-in-one shot. I have formally protested, including submitting a well-researched treatise on the hyped & bogus “flu threat.” Long story long, just like you, no one cares to investigate this draconian policy - we have all been getting the flu when we never did before having to have the shot. No one even tracks the effectiveness and whether you got the flu- just shills who have become sheep herders. If there were any other alternative, I would have gone three years ago. But, this is Michigan! It makes me so enraged I can barely stand it. Did anyone ever hear what happened to the Nurses suing New York for trying to mandate the H1N1 vaccination? I know people have been fired from my hospital for not submitting. Unbelievable.


50 posted on 09/13/2011 4:53:38 PM PDT by Sioux-san
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Sioux-san

Outragous.

Like I said I have bad reaction to certain drugs. My HMO knows that, maybe that is why they didn’t argue with me.
Do you have any alergies?


51 posted on 09/13/2011 5:12:01 PM PDT by Marty62 (Marty60)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Rational Thought

$30k since 2000??

OMG!

That’s almost $3000 a year or nearly $250 PER MONTH!!

WAIT...That’s not even a car payment on a decent car.


52 posted on 09/13/2011 6:23:27 PM PDT by Eagle Eye (Proud to be a RINO.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: upchuck

Perry used an EO to make the vaccines available at no cost to families that wanted it. He used the system in place to help Texan families fight cancer.

The opt out was already in place for those families that didn’t want it.

What part of this upsets you?


53 posted on 09/13/2011 6:26:22 PM PDT by Eagle Eye (Proud to be a RINO.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Sioux-san

This post might answer your question.


54 posted on 09/13/2011 6:29:24 PM PDT by Eagle Eye (Proud to be a RINO.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: Eagle Eye

If there was an “opt-out” then why is this EO being characterized as mandatory? We have an opt-out for the mandatory flu vaccine that only allows for religious reasons or an allegy to the vaccines. I guess this all goes back to what kind of world do you want to live in? The Nanny State that tries to eliminate all risk (unsuccessfully) and Freedom, where I get to decide what risks I will take. If you make provisions for one person to opt out, then that must be a safe alternative that I should also be afforded based on my own convictions.


55 posted on 09/13/2011 7:57:59 PM PDT by Sioux-san
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 53 | View Replies]

To: Rational Thought

There has been a gilzillion posts on this same topic tonight. However about something else. This was brought up in 2007, the Legislature did not pass the law, so it is a moot point. I am sick of this crap!


56 posted on 09/13/2011 9:56:07 PM PDT by Grey Eagle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sioux-san

Flu is an airborne disease. You might not want to get the vaccine, but if you get the flu you can spread it to people with weakened immune systems who could die. If you have children, it is the same principal. This is a bad analogy regarding the HPV vaccine, which WAS NEVER PASSED AND NOT GIVEN.


57 posted on 09/13/2011 9:59:47 PM PDT by Grey Eagle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Rational Thought
Not only that, the brother of the sister-in-law of Rick Perry's former dentist's roomate's uncle used to work for Merck.

Seriously.
58 posted on 09/13/2011 10:00:50 PM PDT by Antoninus (Nothing that offends God can possibly be a legitimate right.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grey Eagle

I understand all of that - my point is about the State (or Employer) ‘blanket mandate’ on any of it. The Texas Legislature stopped the HPV mandate - good for them - doesn’t take away the fact that Perry fully supported a mandate (before he was against it). Not every state is as interested in protecting individual rights. As far as deaths due to Influenza, it is usually pneumonia that does the killing. In Michigan, flu and pneumonia deaths are now reported jointly. People with weakened immune systems can die from a lot of things. Why not help people build up their strength — no money in that....


59 posted on 09/14/2011 6:32:44 AM PDT by Sioux-san
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: Sioux-san

“Mandatory” put it into the realm of being covered by insurance.

Opt in makes it possibly uncovered and on the patient.

IMO, Perry was gaming the system for the benefit of Texans who might want the cancer preventing medication but wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford it.

Do you have a problem with that?


60 posted on 09/14/2011 3:09:47 PM PDT by Eagle Eye (Proud to be a RINO.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 55 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-63 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson